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Hansen has no worries over SBW

Sun, 13 Oct 2013 09:00

He looks like he is going to be back in 2015

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has no complaints over Sonny Bill Williams' decision to choose rugby league over union.

The code-hopping star turned down an offer from the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) to play for the Chiefs again, but Hansen is still positive that Williams will return to rugby before the World Cup in 2015.

"He's entitled to make his own decisions and he looks like he is going to be back in 2015," Hansen told Fairfax NZ News.

If Williams decides to sign with the NZRU next year, that would give him one Super Rugby season to readjust to the code, which Hansen believes will be enough to include him in the World Cup squad.

"A lot of people ask 'is that too late? Well if you are a Super 15 player playing in the 2015 competition you would like to think you are going to be considered for the All Blacks. And that is the case - if someone plays really, really well and is good enough then we will pick them.

"And Sonny has shown us he is plenty good enough and if he gets back for 2015, or even earlier the NPC in 2014, that would be great. I don't know (if he could play any NPC) but I am just chucking it out there," he added.

Hansen admitted that he had discussed the matter with Williams, but reiterated that the final decision will come down to Williams alone.

"I have spoken to him but, again, I think all these decisions should be made by the people themselves and I am a great believer in giving them the space and let them know how you feel, then let them go away and make the decisions.

"And then support them because they are making them for the right reasons," he said.